NECC 2008

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Transforming Technology Projects from Good to Great – The Constructivist Consortium
Sylvia Martinez, Gary Stager, Andrea Sutherland (Inspiration Software)
“Making things is better than being passive” – “Making good things is even better”
Elements of a project
  • Purpose
  • Time
  • Personally meaningful
  • Complex, including serendipity
  • Connected domains of knowledge
  • Shareable
  • Access and constructive materials
  • ‘The folks in Reggio Emilia know”

What is our focus - improving teaching? Or improving learning?

Questions worth asking
  • Is the problem solvable w/ more than 1 answer ? (my note - Is it appropriate to the students)
  • Is the project monumental or substantial?
  • Who does the project satisfy?
  • What can they do with that?

A good prompt is worth 1,000 words
    1. a good prompt, challenge, prpblem or motivation
    2. appropriate materials
    3. sufficient time
    4. ???

An artist’s aesthetic
      • Beautiful
      • Thoughtful
      • Personally meaningful
      • Sophisticated
      • Shareable with a respect for the audience
      • Moves you
      • Enduring

Four ways to use materials
  1. Teach a specific concept
    1. Gears, friction, multiplication of fractions